Improvement in cutting and punching spade-steps



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL OHESNUT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIM- SELF AND THOS. JONES, OF SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CUTTING AND PUNCHING SPADE-STEPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 50,4 16, dated October 10, 1865.

To all whom 'it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL OHEsNU'r, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented a Machine for Cutting and Punching Spade- Steps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, refr rence being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists of a reciprocating cross-head with certain pro'ections acting in combination with a stationary block with cutting-edges, in the manner described hereinafter, so as to form the flattened end of an iron bar at one operation into a spade-step, to make which tedious forging has hitherto been demanded.

In order to enable others to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

On reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a vertical section of my machine for cutting spade-steps; Fig. 2, a transverse vertical section on the line 1 2, Fig. l; Fig. 3, a sectional plan on the line 3 4, Fig. l.; and Fig. 4, a view of the step.

Before explaining my machine it will be proper to describe the spade-steps, the manufacture of which it is intended to facilitate. All spades intended for digging and for the application of the foot of the operator for causing the blade to penetratethesoil areprovided with what are known as steps,7 on which the foot rests.

A, Fig. 4, represents one of these steps, which consists of a piece or Wrought-iron, of the form illustrated, there being at one end, which is thicker than the other, a slot, a, for the reception of a piece ofthe edge of the blade, the said piece being riveted to the step. The thinner and Wider end of the step is driven against the handle B of the spade, which' is penetrated by the pointed projection b before thestepis rivetedto theblade. Hitherto these steps have been made by the usual processes of forging, cutting, and punching on an anvil,

operations demanding tedious manipulation, which is avoided by the use of the machine which I will now proceed to describe.

D is the foundation-plate, from which projects the bent arm E. In the outer end of the latter the square stein e ot the cross-head F is arranged to slide vertically, and to this crosshead a vert-ical reciprocating motion is imparted by means of the lever G, or by any other suitable appliances.

On the under side ofthe cross-head are three projections, f, h, and i, the inner edge of the projection j' being formed to correspond tothe shape of the wide end of the step, as seen in Fig. 3, and to the inclined cutting-edge rv ofa block, H, secured to the foundationplate D.

The inner edgeof the projection fi is formed to correspond to the rounded end of the step, as is also the edge y of the block, and the projec tion h forms a punch for cutting the slot a in the step, a hole for receiving this punch being formed in the block.

It should be understood that the inner edge of the projection'fis close to the edge a: of the block as the cross-head descends, and that the inner edge of the projection t'is close to the edge y of the block. A bar of iron appropri-l ately heated is tlattened on an anvil at one end, so as to be of the desired shape of the step laterally. Itis then, while still hot and while the cross-head is elevated, placed on the block H. On the descentof the cross-head the combined actions ofits projectionsf, h, and t' and the edgesx and y of the block will at once cut and punch the flattened end of the bar into the desired step, ready for application to the blade and handle of the spade, thereby obviating the necessity ot' resorting to the usual tedious forging process.

l claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The reciprocating crosshead F` with its projections f, h, and t', in combination with the block H and its edges a and y, the Whole being arranged for joint action, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thc presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL CHESNUT.

Witnesses: v

HENRY HoWsoN, W. J. R. DELANY. 

